ARMSTRONG'S CARRIAGE AND WAGON COMPANY

ARMSTRONG'S CARRIAGE AND WAGON COMPANY. Armstrong's Carriage and Wagon Factory was founded by Thomas ARMSTRONG in May, 1865. His business was located on Third street between Main and Locust. He remained there ten years. In 1875, Armstrong began constructing new buildings at the corner of Locust and Jones STREETS. This was completed in June of the same year, at a cost of $12,000. (1)

The buildings consisted of a carriage factory, 60x120 feet, four stories high, and a blacksmith-shop 32x60 feet, one story in height, both of brick, together with supply sheds, lumber and drying rooms. (2)

When operating to its full capacity, twenty-five men were employed, at a weekly salary of $300. They manufactured five carriages in that space of time. These were sold in Dubuque, adjoining counties and in the northwestern states and territories. (3)

The business earned $25,000 annually.

In November, 1880 the buildings had been leased for the CHAMBERLAIN PLOW COMPANY. (4)

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Source:

1. Oldt, Franklin T., History of Dubuque County, Iowa. Online. http://books.google.com/books?id=u9xDAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA648&lpg=PA648&dq=KEY+CITY+CARRIAGE+TOPS&source=bl&ots=0CnBDKxT6u&sig=EFlJJUsEXsKwBtE8GHLWp-2W6MI&hl=en&sa=X&ei=oxmLUaTtE6vH0AHF_oG4Bw&ved=0CFEQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=KEY%20CITY%20CARRIAGE%20TOPS&f=false

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.

4. "New Plow Factory," Dubuque Herald, November 6, 1880, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18801106&printsec=frontpage&hl=en